A Guide To Using An Automatic Transfer Switch

A home can probably survive without electricity for a few hours even if it is inconvenient but for much business it could spell disaster. With the continual growing power outage and cuts, installing a generator as a power back up source is becoming an increasing trend. With it, the awareness has grown that merely installing the generator is not enough. The generator needs to be operated through a reliable automatic transfer switch which makes the supply of power a safe and reliable process. Since the transfer switches are available in both manual and automatic version, one must consider the options carefully before making a choice. Here we list down various advantages and possible flip side of the automatic switches for you to make an educated choice:-

Uninterrupted power supply

For those requiring constant electricity for running of critical services, the automatic switch is the best option as it facilitates uninterrupted power supply. Normally entities with safety issues or financial risks require uninterrupted power supplies like hospitals, police departments, jails and prisons, data centres, defence organizations etc. On the flip side, sometimes these switches respond to false signals leading to waste of electricity powers though it is in small amount.

More efficient switching to the generator power

While the automatic switches can supply uninterrupted power, they are also considered the most efficient way to switch over to generator feed from utility feed. Fir manual switches one has to go over to the switch in case of power outage and then turn it on to restore the power supply which may take up quite a bit of time with the minimum time being of a few minutes. With the automatic switch, this changeover just takes a couple of seconds and it is so seamless that the time lag often goes unnoticed. On the downside, the automatic switches are larger with more complex mechanism. They are thus a more costly affair. The prices also vary depending on style and the brand of the switch. Emergency power solutions provider may give you the best switches choice ideal for your needs.

Automatic switches are more preferred for less accessible generators

Sometimes due to space issues and other factors, the generators are placed on locations where they are difficult to access on a daily routine basis. They are located in upper areas which may require ladders or catwalks or even special keys to reach to them. Thus in case of a power outage, manual switch can never be an option here as getting to it can be both inconvenient as well as potentially dangerous. On the flip side, the automatic switches require a higher level of maintenance because of their more complex components especially with regards to their testing maintenance and their replacement parts. These rules can best be described by the emergency power solutions provider.

There are times when people have little idea about purchasing and using automatic switches. Thus, one needs to take the help of an expert to ensure that they are fitted the best and to learn how to use them without any difficulty.